Cablegate: Tokyo Media Reaction - Japan-China Relations

VZCZCXRO2811
PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #1688 1710359
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 190359Z JUN 08
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5239
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUYNAAC/COMNAVFORJAPAN YOKOSUKA JA PRIORITY
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
RHHMHBA/COMPACFLT PEARL HARBOR HI//N541// PRIORITY
RHMFIUU/HQ PACAF HICKAM AFB HI//CC/PA// PRIORITY
RUHBANB/OKINAWA FLD OFC US FORCES JAPAN CP BUTLER JA PRIORITY
RHMFIUU/USFJ PRIORITY
INFO RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 8469
RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 0844
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 6730
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 9054
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 2192
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 4002
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 2379
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 9997
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0413
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC

UNCLAS TOKYO 001688

SIPDIS

STATE FOR I/RF, PA/PR/FPC/W, IIP/G/EA, EAP/PD, R/MR,
EAP/J, EAP/P, PM;
USTR FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE;
TREASURY FOR OASIA/IMI;
SECDEF FOR OASD/PA;
CP BUTLER OKINAWA FOR AREA FIELD OFFICE;
PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO JA
SUBJECT: TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - JAPAN-CHINA RELATIONS
AND TRUCE IN GAZA

1. LEAD STORIES: Most Thursday morning papers led with
a formal agreement between Japan and China for the
former to finance two natural gas field development
projects in the East China Sea currently being
unilaterally undertaken by China.

2. "Realistic Compromise Made" On the accord between
Beijing and Tokyo concerning joint development of
undersea natural gas fields in the East China Sea, the
liberal Asahi editorialized (6/19): "The two sides did
not touch on the issue of determining the boundary of
their exclusive economic zones; their positions on the
matter remain unchanged. Nonetheless, a compromise was
possible (over gas field development) thanks to the
political decision by Prime Minister Fukuda and Chinese
President Hu. They concluded that each side would
benefit more from improving bilateral ties, even at the
expense of making partial concessions."

3. "Failure to Contain Hamas Prompts Compromise" On the
ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas in Gaza,
the liberal Mainichi's correspondent reported from
Jerusalem (6/19): "Israel decided to agree on a
ceasefire with Hamas, which does not recognize Israel's
right to exist, because it concluded that a certain
degree of compromise is unavoidable in view of the
apparent failure of its policy of encircling Gaza with
the aim of weakening Hamas. However, given that past
ceasefires have failed soon after their effectuation,
it is questionable whether the latest one will lead to
a breakthrough in Gaza."

4. "Israel Changes Policy of Isolating Hamas" A
Jerusalem-based reporter for the top-circulation,
moderate Yomiuri wrote (6/19): "The truce represents an
effective change in Israel's policy of considering
Hamas as a terrorist group and isolating it.... The
reason Israel decided on a truce is that Prime Minister
Olmert needed to present to the Israeli people tangible
policy accomplishments in order to restore his grip on
power in response to mounting criticism from within the
ruling coalition over his alleged involvement in a
scandal (connected to the privatization of a national
bank)."

SCHIEFFER

© Scoop Media